Racing the Night

General Information

Episode Number: 109
Written By: J. Michael Straczynski
Directed By: Michael Vejar

Starring:
Gary Cole as Captain Matthew Gideon
Daniel Dae Kim as Lieutenant John Matheson
Carrie Dobro as Dureena Nafeel 
Peter Woodward as Galen 
David Allen Brooks  as  Maximilian Eilerson 
Marjean Holden as Dr Sarah Chambers 
Tracy Scoggins as Captain Elizabeth Lochley (not seen in this episode)

Guest Starring:
Brenan Baird as Kulan
Madison Mason as General Miller

Also Starring:
Neil Bradley as Drazi Ambassador
Roxanna Brusso as Crew #1
Jonathan Chapman as Brakiri Ambasssador
Adam Clark as Ranger

Plot

Summary: Excalibur encounters a civilization which once dealt with the alien plague Earth now faces. Gideon and his crew become dangerously entangled in said civilization's search for a cure. (Note: This episode was originally intended to be the series premiere. Comments and questions on divergences from this episode and what was shown in War Zone will be noted in italics.)

Detailed Summary: Coming soon.

Observations

Facts

• Gideon made a deal that if the cure could not be found in four years he would spend the final year over Earth shooting down any ship attempting to leave the planet. (Dream sequence)
• The Excaliber was provided to Earth Alliance by the Interstellar Alliance.
• The heiroglyphs showed the beginning equations for advanced technology, including creating and conserving energy, nre propulsion systems, new alloys.
• At least 30 seperate species have been to the planet.
• Planet deserted for 1,000 years
• Crewman Verelli was the man killed.
• Homonculous probe-a technomage device that holographically displays an image of its user while relaying information back to the mage in question.
• Hundreds of ships. Identifiable ships held by aliens: Narn Cruiser, Vree Saucer?, possible Centauri Battleship, Bilosian? freigher, Brakiri cruiser
• World was infected by Shadows after they refused to allow their world to be used as a base of operations.
• The entire planets population went to sleep after unable to find cure to plague.
• Each generation's Keeper conducts the planets test. There have been 500 Keepers.
• 10 Billion people on Earth
• Gideon promises to share the cure with the planet's populace, but they will be held accountable for the others they have murdered in their tests.
• Using Rangers to decide on target worlds to investigate.

Characters:
   Captain Gideon

• Has faced more battles in peace time than most officers see in a major war.
• Was chosen personally by President Sheridan to commmand the Excaliber.
• Used the apocalypse box to find the planet the Excaliber went to.Doesn't trust the box but uses it anyway.

   Dureena Nafeel

• Has asked Galen to teach her what he knows

   Galen

• Refuses to teach Dureena his knowledge until she gives up her need for revenge.

Quotables

• "Then I expect trouble at any minute."--Cpt. Gideon
• "I'm a realist."--Cpt. Gideon
• "He appears when you want him least and need him most"--Cpt Gideon
• "Garbage in. Garbage out."--Max Eilerson
• "Never contradict a technomage when he's saving your life again."--Galen
• "I don't. I have no surviving enemies at all."--Galen
• "Oh look. Someting dreadful"--Galen as Homonculous
• "There is a right time and a wrong time for everything."--Galen
• "I read the drivers manual, Lieutenant."--Cpt Gideon

Questions

• Would Gideon really be held to the four year deal he mde with the alien ambassadors? (Dream sequence)
• What was the name of the world and it's people?
• Given a comment Eilerson made, does Gideon have some hatred of Narns?
• Does Galen suspect Gideon possesses an Apocalypse Box?

Ratings

Story: 8.00
Acting: 9.10
Special F/X: 9.00

Notes: An excellent episode that had the same feel as a standard Babylon 5 episode in all areas: dialog, story, action and mystery. This episode should have been kept as the premeire for the series. It was for more interesting than the bland War Zone episode.
   The actors seemed enthusiastic, and in turn, their characters seemed more believable. None felt like they were uncomfortable working together nor did the dialog delivered in a wooden manner nor seem stilted as previously shown episodes seem to be at times.
  I still despise the "new" uniforms, but given that they were originally to be replaced by the dark blue uniforms, I can tolerate them.

Best Actor/Actress: Gary Cole. Cole was excellent in this episode showing a broader range of emotion than seen in the previous eight episodes, as were the rest of the cast. (See notes for further commentary on acting.)